Ameachi and Atiku
FeaturedHighlightPoliticsTrending Story

2023: Amaechi romances Atiku for Vice-Presidential ticket, wants Atiku’s INTELS/NPA deal restored — PSN exclusive

356

 

..”Amaechi, a former member of PDP and one-time governor of Rivers State’s desperate quest for the actualisation of a long-standing political ambition, may be responsible for the preference of the restoration of all business relationships between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Integrated Logistics Nigeria Limited (INTELS)”
 
“Working for the restoration of INTELS contracts, the minister may have been killing two birds with one stone by building a financial war chest and worming himself back into the heart of Atiku Abubakar, who still aspires to contest for the presidency in 2023 and may be disposed to considering Ameachi as running mate, all things being equal”
 
 
 
The lid of the political undercurrent and realignment of forces ahead of the 2023 presidential race by the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has been blown open.

Amaechi, the current two-term Minister and President Muhammadu Buhari’s two-time campaign Director-General is in the forefront of promoting INTELS, a company owned by ex-Vice-President  Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
 

Amaechi, a former member of PDP and one-time governor of Rivers State’s desperate quest for the actualisation of a long-standing political ambition, may be responsible for the preference of the restoration of all business relationships between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Integrated Logistics Nigeria Limited (INTELS).
 

 

MD NPA, Hadiza Usman
Sources told Per Second News over the weekend that by working for the restoration of INTELS contracts, the minister may have been killing two birds with one stone by building a financial war chest and worming himself back into the heart of Atiku Abubakar, who still aspires to contest for the presidency in 2023 and may be disposed to considering Ameachi as running mate, all things being equal.
 
Sources told Persecondnews that a recent announcement by Atiku’s divestment from INTELS, was an attempt to hoodwink Nigerians.
 
 “I can bet that he is still involved in the company. This was only a gimmick coming from the belief that government wanted to ruin his business interests, but all NPA wanted was just compliance with the laws. 
 
“Why art there not problems on their other businesses for instance. The boat pilotage brings in a lot of money, but the contract has expired after a 15-year period, they were allowed to participate in the tenders, got disqualified for flouting the rules but the minister does not seem to want to hear that. ” 
 
PSN recalls that Amaechi while inaugurating the administrative panel set up to probe the management of the NPA  penultimate week, had urged the panel to “examine and investigate Issues leading to the termination of pilotage and other contracts of Nigerian Ports Authority and confirm compliance with the terms of the respective contracts, court rulings and Presidential directives.”

Before the inauguration of the panel, the Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman was suspended after Amaechi secured a mid-night approval from Buhari to pave way for the investigation. 
 
Credible sources who are abreast of the undercurrents between the minister and the NPA maintained that the main concern of the minister is the multi-million-dollar pilotage contract, which INTELS executed for the NPA since 2005.

 

Atiku
However, the relationship was punctuated by numerous altercations since the Hadiza Bala Usman management took over affairs at the NPA in 2016 until it came to a terminal end in August 2020. 

Disagreements between the two parties centred mainly on claims by the NPA that the company failed to comply with Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy of the government. 
 
There was also the NPA’s decision to break the monopoly of INTELS as the only oil and gas terminal in the country, a decision, which is believed to have been applauded by operators in the sector.

Per Second News learnt that the Minister had, following a Presidential approval sometime earlier this year, requested the restoration of all contracts between the NPA and INTELS, which were hitherto suspended or terminated by the NPA.
 
The agency was also directed to withdraw all court cases involving both parties. Bala Usman was said to have escalated the issue to President Muhammadu Buhari, providing more facts and insisting that the pilotage contract was not terminated but had expired by effluxion of time which inspired the latter to seek the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation.
 
 Although sources close to the minister suggested that his main grouse resulted from Ms Bala Usman’s presentation of superior facts to the Presidency without his knowledge or approval.

 

READ ALSO: Real reasons why Ameachi is going after Hadiza Bala Usman’s jugular

 

It was also gathered that Bala Usman’s intransigence is putting a stumbling block in Amaechi’s way towards the 2023 ambition which may include the possibility of leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) if the party becomes too difficult to handle given the fact that Buhari would no longer be standing for elections and will make the contest a free- for- all. 
 
”This will not be too good for Ameachi who is not well liked by most party stalwarts including state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly, a Southwest APC leader said.


“The calculation is that even the PDP will implode given the controversy surrounding Atiku’s candidacy and the opposition from within the party led by  people like Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike.
 
“Then that popular saying that ‘my enemy’s enemy is my friend’ philosophy will come into play and Atiku and Ameachi may emerge in a calculation that is bound to shock many Nigerians,” another party bigwig said.
 
Again, the Minister is also believed to be taking advantage of his business relationship with the Chinese Government through the instrumentality of his office leveraging on the ongoing multi-billion dollar rail projects for his  2023 ambition, a party stalwart told PSN.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Tinubu at Easter says Nigerians’ sacrifices over his reforms appreciated, yielding fruits

President Bola Tinubu says he has worked hard to lead the nation...

Tax evasion: Lawyer withdraws from fleeing Binance executive’s case against NSA, EFCC

Mr. T.J. Krukrubo (SAN), the head of the legal team, has withdrawn...

FAAN shuts down KFC outlet at Lagos Airport over discrimination against ex-Gov Daniel’s son

Barely 24 hours after Debola Daniel, son of former Ogun State Governor...

Atiku’s campaign DG switches loyalty, drums support for Tinubu, Fubara

A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, who...

Just in: FCT court discharges, acquits ex-AGF Adoke in OPL 245 fraud charge

The FCT High Court in Jabi, Abuja, on Thursday dismissed the charges...

63-year-old woman, teenage girl, two others killed in U.S. stabbing spree

A man armed with a knife went on a stabbing spree in...

FG to collect only nine types of taxes, says FIRS chairman

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says in line with the presidential...

After 14 days in detention, First News editor, Segun Olatunji, breathes air of freedom

The Editor of FirstNews, a digital newspaper, Segun Olatunji, on Thursday regained...

N3trn budget padding: Sen. Ningi threatens legal action if suspension is not lifted in seven days

Abdul Ningi, the senator representing Bauchi Central, has given Senate President Godswill...

Eniola Ajao apologizes over “AJAKAJU” movie premiere controversy

Actress Eniola Ajao has issued an apology to the public in the...

Ex-Presidential media aide, Akande criticises LP’s leadership, urges party’s alignment with national interest

Mr. Laolu Akande, a former presidential assistant, has expressed dissatisfaction with the...

Economic hardship: Ogun Govt. begins sale of rice at 50 percent price reduction to workers, public

Ogun Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has announced that his administration will start selling...

FG committed to steel industry revitalization to drive infrastructural development, says Industry Minister, Dr Uzoka-Anite

The Federal Government is committed to industry rehabilitation, with a focus on...

Easter: FG declares Friday, March 29, Monday, April 1 public holidays

The Federal Government has declared Friday, March 29, and Monday, April 1,...

Fake, unwholesome products: NAFDAC seals 10 bakeries, 8 table water factories in Rivers

The National Agency for Food and Drug Control (NAFDAC) has shut down...

Climate change, food security: AfDB approves $50 million for Yobe State

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has granted a $50 million loan...

Ex Guinea-Bissau President’s Son Jailed in U.S. for Drug Trafficking

Malam Bacai Sanha Jr, the son of a former president of Guinea-Bissau,...

Few weeks to party primary, leading Ondo APC governorship aspirant, Dr. Paul Akintelure, passes away

Dr. Paul Akintelure, a prominent candidate for governorship in Ondo State who...

IPOB, bandits using betting sites, crowdsourcing to finance terrorism – NFIU

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), bandits, and other terror organizations are...

EU launches €9m energy projects in Nigeria

The European Union (EU) has unveiled two new initiatives worth €9 million...